TIM CAHILL will miss Australia’s World Cup qualifiers against Malaysia and Oman after playing through the pain barrier in the Merseyside derby.

The Everton midfielder was set to fly home for the Socceroos’ matches in Canberra and Sydney but the Toffees’ medical staff have insisted he needs more recovery time.

The 31-year-old initially sustained an ankle injury in a clash with Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany nine days ago.

Cahill suffered heavy swelling and bruising, and only trained properly for a day before being passed fit for Saturday’s 216th Merseyside derby which saw Everton suffer successive 2-0 defeats in the Premier League.

Such is his belief in Cahill’s ability to upset the odds and find the net against Everton’s city rivals, manager David Moyes kept the former Milwall player on the field for the entire game against Kenny Dalglish’s men.

Now Cahill has been advised to rest the injured ankle, and work closely with the club medical staff rather than undergo a series of gruelling flights to Australia only to be pitched back into competitive action for his country.

Everton’s head of medicine Danny Donachie said: “Tim played through the pain barrier on Saturday against Liverpool but the scan showed the best course of action now is rest and rehab.

“Tim is disappointed but it is a straightforward decision because he would not be fit enough to play in the games in Australia.”

Cahill will undergo intensive rehabilitation at Finch Farm throughout the international break, and he is not the only veteran socceroo to be rested.

Fulham and Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is also unavailable for international duty after aggravating a back injury in the Cottagers’ 6-0 demolition of QPR on Sunday.

The news will at least be a boost for David Moyes who will relish having Cahill fit and rested ahead of a testing run of fixtures, beginning with the tea-time clash against Chelsea on October 15.

Everton then travel to Fulham the following weekend, before hosting Chelsea again in the last 16 of the Carling Cup before preparing for the visit of table-topping Manchester United on October 29.

Cahill had already missed two of Australia’s summer friendlies in order to rest a foot injury he picked up on Asia Cup duty with his national side, which marred the second half of his Premier League season.